Spraying nozzle



Dec. 20,1938. M, F|5K 2,140,903

SPRAYING NOZZLE Filed June 2o, 1936 v v Z fr? I 21 ven a?? Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAYING NOZZLE Merton L. Fisk, Somerville, Mass.

Application` June 20, 1936, Serial No. 86,277 Claims. (Cl. 299-138) My invention relates to spray nozzle and more convenient operation of the spray control lever by specifically to the whirling-spray type thereof the left hand, thus leaving the right hand free to adapted for use in the treatment of plants, manipulate the supply valve. The practice has shrubbery, trees and the like. One of the novel been to employ a joint-sealing washer, of leather duc-tion of a finer and more evenly distributed able arrangement for this purpose because of the spray of the whirling type; that is to say, the fact that the threaded connection, in combination particles of liquid are broken into a finer mist, or with such a washer, cannot be depended upon to fog, than has heretofore been possible, which rebring the spray control lever into correct Operasults in better penetration thereof among the tion position and when the nozzle is backed away 'l0 leaves of plants and trees. The whirling spray vis to obtain this correct position a leak occurs at the 'obviously old in itself, nevertheless, I have dissealing point. With my improved Sealing a1- covered, by extensive research and tests, that rangement the 110221@ may be adjusted t0 apmuch better results can be obtained if the vortex DTOXmalJely a full turn WhOllt any leakage 0cof a. whirling column of liquid can be maintained Currrlg. l5 in precise axial alignment with the nozzle out- The foregoing features all contribute to provide let; that is to say, the center of the nozzle outa whirling-spray nozzle made up of less parts, arlet should be maintained at the center of the ranged to be instantly and DOStVely freed When whirling column of liquid; tests which I have clogging occurs, and which will break the liquid f made show that a variation of .O01 of an inch into finer particles thereby producing a fog, or y2o from the foregoing will produce a coarser spray mist, with greater penetrating capacity. One emand is therefore less desirable; my improvednozbodiment of such a spray nozzle will be described zle presents an arrangement whereby this reand shown in the accompanying drawing, n lationship is xed and therefore affords greatest which,

efficiency at all times. Figure 1 is a side elevation of such a nozzle as l 25 Another novel feature of this invention lies iny applied to the usual control valve element of a the construction land arrangement of parts' to portable hand-operated spraying unit. greatly facilitate clearing of the nozzle in the Fig. 2 is a plan view, in detail, 0f the HOZZIB itevent it becomes clogged, due to foreign matter self.

in the spraying solution. This is known to be the Fig 3 is a longitudinal section, on line 3-3 of 30 most troublesome feature of spraying devices and Fig. 2, of the nozzle shown at enlarged scale.

results in considerable loss of time because clog- Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken on line ging cannot be entirely avoided. The usual nozie-4 of Fig. 3. zle, of the whirling spray type, comprises several Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of parts which must be disassembled for clearing Fig. 4 showing the arrangement of passageways35 purposes. A well known and universally used in detail. type of nozzle comprises six parts, some of which Figs, 6 and 7 are cross sections, similar to Fig. are very small, and the unit must be disassembled 3, ShOWiIlg VaIOuS DOSOIIS 0f the IOlatable for clearing. This operation not only requires kmember for cleaning purposes, and

some time to perform but often results in the loss Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of 40 of some part among plants or shrubbery which nozzle. causes expensive delays. My improved whirling In Figure 1 of the drawing I have shown a spray nozzle need not be disassembled for clearconventional and well known type of liquid-coning purposes, it merely requires rotation of the trol element I having a hand-controlled trigger control lever and the clearing is positive, a mat- 2 which cooperates with a valve-rod element'3 to `45 ter of four or ve seconds time in the most permit admission of liquid, under pressure, to the stubborn cases, and eliminates the danger of lost spray nozzle. The element, 1, is usually connected parts entirely. Y to a supply tank by means of a flexible hose mem- Still another feature of theinvention relates to ber 4 and held in the right hand of the operator' the construction of and means by which the nozby which he manipulates trigger 2. 50 zle is connected, in a liquid-tight manner, yto a The outer end of element l is usually provided valve or pipe line whereby liquid is supplied, under with a threaded male portion 5, Fig. 3, adapted pressure, to said nozzle. A spray nozzle used in to receive the female threaded portion 6 of a connection with an outfit designed to be carried spray nozzle. The outer surface of this female about by the operator should be adjustable for portion may be adapted to receive a wrench, as 55 features of my improved device provides for proor similar material, which does not provide a suit- 5 shown at l and it should be noted, Fig. 3, that said portion is spaced away from element as shown at ii. In present day construction this space S is occupied by a common leather washer to prevent leakage at this point,the nozzle portion t serving to jam the washer b-etween it and the abutting shoulder presented by element as the nozzle is screwed into position on the latter. As the element I is mounted in a vertical position, as shown, with reference to the hose 4A and trigger 2, it will be understood that the stream of spray should be in the same vertical plane also in order to obtain best results. In other words, if the line of spray is not in the same vertical plane with element I then the operator must continually twist the hose in order to throw a-vertical spray. This has always been a fault with the use of a washer as above described because there were few chances that the joint would come tight and` the line of spray vertical at the same time, whereupon the nozzle must be unscrewed a little and then a leak occurs at the joint which is not only troublesome but causes a considerable loss of liquid in time.

The present invention discloses a packing device for the foregoing connection which will yield and permit substantially a full rotation of the nozzle, to obtain the above mentioned vertial adjustment, before any leakage occurs although only 180 degrees is necessary. With the old method, and the best washer obtainable, an adjustment of about 20 degrees is the maximum before leakage occurs at the joint.

My improved joint-sealing, or packing device comprises a tubular member 5, preferably ar.- ranged to extend into the passageway of` incoming liquid, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a cup-shaped flange It! xedly attached thereto. A compressible washer element II, such as rub- 46" ber, is mounted upon tube 9, confined within flange I3 and adapted to engage a shoulder I2 at the bottom ofthe nozzle threaded portion. This arrangement provides a yieldable seal to prevent liquid from entering the threads at this point. At the opposite side of flange I is another washer I3, preferably of fibre or the like, mounted on tube 9 and arranged to engage the end of male portion 5 on element I to prevent leakage at this point. When the no-zzle is screwed into close contact with element I the rubber washer will be compressed longitudinally and fibre washer I3 will permit rotation between the parts and still maintain a tight joint, due to pressure exerted upon it by the rubber washer being under compression, all of which results in the above mentioned advantages.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing I have shown one form of my novel whirlingspray mechanism comprising an elongated tapered member I4 mounted for rotation within a casing I5 which is formed integral with the threaded female portion of the nozzle. This member I4 is provided at one end thereof with an operating lever I5, Figs. l. and 2. while the opposite end may be reduced in diameter and extended to present a threaded stud portion I'I adapted to receive a nut I8. A washer I9 is arranged to seat on one side of casing I5v and a spring 2B is preferably interposed between the washer and said nut I8 whereby the tapered member I4 is held in sealing contact with the tapered bore in said casing. The foregoing construction is obviously old in the sense of an ordinary valve unit, or spigot.

My aim has been to produce a nozzle of the whirling-spray type wherein the center of the spray outlet is in positively fixed axial alignment with the vortex of a whirling column of water at all times. To accomplish this I provide a cylindrical chamber 2| arranged normal to the axis of member I4, said chamber having one open end arranged to be normally closed by casing I5, when spraying, as shown in Fig. 3. The other end of chamber 2| is tapered and reduced to a desirable spray opening 22, the center of which lies on the axis of chamber 2|. The tapered portion of chamber 2| prevents formation of a neck in the stream as it emerges from opening 22.

The liquid to be sprayed enters the nozzle unit, under pressure, through the bore, or passageway 23, and. is directed therefrom to chamber 2| through bores 24 and 25 which are in communication with bore"v 23 when the device is being operated for spraying, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that bore 25 is drilled at an angle which directsv itsy stream towards; theV closed end of chamber 2| this isdoneto prevent a dead spot, or pocket, being created at this point' and provides amore'zuniformwhirltothe liquid. These bores, 24nand, 25;,enter chamber-2j| tangent to the circular-wall thereof as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5,V the: latter of which illustrates, by arrows, how

thei liquid, is. transformed from and ordinary streannintoa whirling column as it enters said chamber. It'will alsobe clear from Fig. 5 that the vortex` of the. whirling column is in axial alinement. with the center of outlet 22, that this relationship` istconfined` to a single element, viz., the rotatable member I4, and is therefore never disturbediby'disassembling the nozzle unit. Present, day'whirling-spray` nozzles are composed of severalpartsan'd no-rneans are provided therein to assurer the above mentioned axial alinement.

In my device; the normal stream upon entering chamber:2.| does not encounter projections of any nature toretardz' its progress and is therefore graduallytransformed into a whirling column cf liquid-z by theuse of* a one-piece element. Particulariattentionis called to the position of bores 24 and 25, in Fig. 5, relative to passageway 23, they being: adjacent the right hand wall thereof: thiswill permit grinding, or reseating, of tapered member I4; which would cause it to move to leftawhen. again replaced, within the casing: by this; arrangement bores 24 and 25' would then be moved towards the center of bore 23 and away from said right hand wall. An opening in casing.. |51, servesV only as an exit for the spray stream, inthis casebut: is used for clearing purposesY as willY be presentlydescribed; that is to say; in this preferred form, the opening 25 does not cooperate in any way to produce the spray. this beingi accomplished entirely by chamber 2| and associated bores. Another radial bore 2'! in member I4 is used only for clearing purposes.

Operation- The lever I5 is rotated to the horizontal position shown in Fig. l which will bring the spray openingk 22 in line with exit 26 in. the casing. and' also cause boresv 24 and 25' toV form communication between bore 23 and chamber 2|, see Fig. 3. The operator then controls the spraying operation by manipulation of the trigger 2 on element I, thereby permitting liquid, under pressure, to enter the nozzle at will, no further attention to lever I6 being necessary. unless clogging occurs.

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate two different positions of rotatable member |4 during the process of clearing the. nozzle when clogging thereof occurs.

Itwill be seen that there are two places subject Iend of spray opening 22, as seen from Fig. 3 showing spraying position of member I4. By manipulation of lever I5, vtorotate member I4 into the position shown in Figj, two events take place; first, any foreign matter deposited at the entrance :to ports 24 and 25 will .be sheared, or wiped, off

the periphery of member I4 and the open end of chamber 2| is presented tointake passageway 23 and becomes an inlet Ito said chamber; second, the normally inlet ports 24 and 25 become outlet ports and the direction of fiow through them4 is now reversed, whereby, any foreign matter may be blown to the atmosphere through exit 26 and chamber 2I will be thoroughly flushed from within. The foregoing operation will immediately clear the passageways in most cases; however, in more severe cases the member I4 may be easily rotated to the position shown in Fig. 7 wherein the open end of chamber 2| becomes exposed to the atmosphere and auxiliary bore 2l serves as an inlet thereto, whereby, chamber ZI may be thoroughly flushed resulting in a quick and efficient operation, under pressure. It will be understood that member I4 is easily rotated and the above operation can be accomplished by one or two rotations thereof with the left hand while trigger 2 is held in open position by the right hand, the entire lapse of time required being a matter of seconds.

The position of member I4 as shown in Fig. 6 may also be utilized for fire fighting, or the like. Ports 24 and 25 may be utilized in this case to provide a non-whirling spray created by the nonparallel relationship thereof, or, slight rotation of member I4 will close port 25 and produce a straight stream for greater distances.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of nozzle wherein the spray opening is formed in the casing 28', the advantage being that several different sizes of whirling spray openings may be obtained in one nozzle unit, and also,'a normal non-whirling stream may be had. In this arrangement of nozzle I prefer to provide a whirlcreating chamber comprising a single bore 28, positioned transverse to the axis of the tapered rotatable member 29, as in the previous case, but this bore has both ends open, except when closed by the casing. At one end of this bore 28 I provide a pair of slots, or grooves 30, 3I, Fig. 10, arranged tangent to the wall of said bore and diametrically disposed as shown. It will be clear .that liquid entering bore 28 from either groove will create a whirl within said bore. When member 29 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 8 groove 38 is presented to inlet bore 32 and the opposite end of bore 28 is brought into axial alinement with a spray opening 33 of one desired diameter.

Rotation of member 29 to the position shown in Fig. 9 produces a non-whirling stream as bore 28 is brought into alinement with inlet bore 32 and an outlet opening 34 of substantial diameter. Further rotation of member 29 will bring bore 28 into axial alinement with another spray opening 35 of smaller diameter than opening 33, thereby providing a variable spray instantly without a change of parts; it will be clear that this latter position will bring groove 3I into operating relationship with inlet bore 32 and therefore produce a whirling spray again in this case. This type of nozzle may be cleared, after clogging, in the same manner as described in connection with the preferred form.

v The use of this whirling-spray nozzle is not, of

course, confined to association with a portable unit such as disclosed, but is equally as well adaptedto be applied in connection with a sta- 4tionary outfit, or one wherein a series of nozzles are supplied from one or several pipe lines, such as a spray boom having any number mounted thereon. The great saving of time and labor, with a series of six or more nozzles, can be appreciated in the case of clogging when this improved device is employed; one or two oscillations of lever I6 and the nozzle is free again.

It is also important that all nozzles mounted upon a spray boom be adjustable at their respective threaded portions, where attached to the pipe line, and here again my improved sealing unit is of great advantage and can be applied to any standard unit now in use. While the initial cost of this seal is necessarily more than a leather Washer it has proven itself to be cheaper in the end due to the saving of time and liquid; there are no parts to wear, because all friction during adjustment is taken up by the ber washer and prolongs the life of the rubber Washer which merely compresses to form a seal. The nozzle itself is very economical to manufacture, will last for years because there is practically no wear on the parts, and the danger of losing any parts by disassembling of the unit is reduced to the minimum degree.

I claimz- 1. In a whirling-spray nozzle, in combination, a casing member, and a circular element mounted for rotation within the casing member, said element being provided with a circular chamber having an axially disposed outlet and, an inlet passageway entering said chamber in a line `substantially tangent to the circular wall thereof, whereby a normal stream of liquid upon entering the chamber will be transformed into a whirling column, for the purpose set forth.

2. A whirling-spray nozzle comprising, in combination, a casing member having an outlet therein, a circular chamber in said casing, an inlet passageway leading to said chamber, and a circular element mounted for rotation within the circular chamber, said element having a diametrically disposed bore arranged for communication with the outlet in said casing and a smaller bore arranged to simultaneously provide communication between the first named bore and the inlet passageway in said casing, said smaller bore being arranged relative to the diametrical bore so that a normal stream of liquid emerging from the former into the latter bore will be transformed into a whirling column to be utilized as a spray.

3. A whirling-spray nozzle comprising, in combination, a casing member having an outlet therein, a circular chamber in said casing, an inlet passageway leading tosaid chamber, and a circular element mounted for rotation within the circular chamber, a diametrically disposed bore in said circular element having an exit of reduced diameter arranged for communication with the outlet in said casing, a bore arranged tangentially to said diametrical bore to simultaneously provide communication between the diametrical bore and the inlet passageway in said casing, and a normally inoperative bore in said element arranged to provide communication between said diametrical bore and the inlet passageway only when the circular element is rotated to relieve clogging.

4. In a spray nozzle comprising a casing member, a plurality of outlets in the casing member, a circular element mounted for rotation within the casing, an inlet passageway in the casing, a diametrically disposed passageway in said element, an inlet passageway in the element arranged tangent to said diametrical passageway, said passageways being arranged to provide a normal stream of uid, a whirling stream of one volume and another whirling stream of a diierent volume according to selective rotative positioning of said element.

5. A whirling spray nozzle comprising a casing member having an inlet port and an outlet port therein arranged in non-axial alignment, an

ed directly to the inlet port the minor bore will l0 be presented directly to said outlet port.

MERTON L. FISK. 

